Printer Cleaning Problems Part 23 Table of Contents ARTJET 2026

Printer Cleaning Problems Part 23 Table of Contents by Symptom

Includes 2 field diagnostic tables · Organized by Symptom → Hypothesis → Check → Solution

Is cleaning not working well? Does pumping fail to push ink into the waste ink tank? Are White nozzles not recovering?

We’ve compiled 5 years of real field issues and solutions related to ink supply and cleaning on customer sites.

Goal of this article: Help you quickly find “ink supply / cleaning problems” by symptom, reducing unnecessary part replacements and trial-and-error.

Who Should Read This?

Anyone whose pumping doesn’t properly push ink into the waste ink tank
Anyone who cleans, but specific channel nozzles — especially White — don’t recover
Anyone whose specific color suddenly drops out mid-print, or whose colors look faded
Engineers/operators who need to quickly determine “is this a pumping/cleaning issue, or a DATA/head issue?”

Precautions

Pumping and cleaning operate independently of the software, electronic board, DATA cable, and head that manage image data. Not knowing this leads to replacing the wrong parts.
Ignoring the main ink tank alarm and continuing to use the printer can let air into the ink tube, causing ink to drop out mid-print.
White requires different maintenance (stirring, pumping time) than Color/Varnish due to pigment settling.

Key Summary (5 Points)

Pumping/cleaning problems are fastest to isolate by checking above the Captop (ink lines, damper, head) vs. below it (Captop, motor pump, waste ink tank).
Main bottle→Ink tube→Damper→Head→Captop→Motor pump→Waste ink tank — if air enters anywhere along this flow, pumping fails.
White pigment is heavy and separates easily, so stirring and pumping time (at least 15 extra seconds) must always be followed.
Captop surface, degraded ink, yellow tube, and Damper are all consumables requiring regular inspection/replacement.
The same symptom can overlap with DATA/head issues, so narrowing down the cause with a Swap test first is the fastest way to cut costs.

Ⅰ. Background · Ink Supply Flow Diagram _UV Printer Ink Supply & Cleaning Problems — 23 Articles by Symptom

Before diving into the diagnostic tables, understanding this flow and structure will help you narrow down the cause quickly.

1. Ink Supply Flow Diagram

When ink is poured into the Main bottle, it flows through the tube to the Damper.
The Damper holds the ink, preventing it from dripping through the head.
The motor pump forces ink through Damper→Head→Captop→Motor pump tube→Waste ink tank.
This process must occur for ink to flow normally from the head during printing.

Printer Cleaning Problems Part 23 Table of Contents

2. Top/Bottom Check Structure Around the Captop

Top section (left): ink lines, damper, head
Bottom section (right): Captop, motor pump, waste ink tank

3. Air Inflow Check Zones

From the Main bottle to the waste ink tank, air must not enter anywhere along the path.
The arrows in the photo below mark the zones where air can enter during cleaning/pumping.

Ⅱ. Symptom-Based Diagnostic Table (For Immediate Field Response) _ Printer Cleaning Problems Part 23 Table of Contents

This is an emergency diagnostic table based on “what’s currently happening on your printer.”
Click the reference numbers in the table below to jump straight to the detailed guide (Parts 1–23).

One-Line Rule of Thumb
For pumping/cleaning issues, check above the Captop (ink lines, damper, head) vs. below it (Captop, motor pump, waste ink tank) to narrow down the cause fast.

Symptom	Likely Cause	Quick Diagnosis	Ref.
Pumping works but a specific channel (usually White) won’t recover	Captop contamination/degraded ink, reduced Damper filter function	Visually check Captop condition → check Damper replacement history	① ⑨ ⑳
Pumping fails entirely (no ink reaches the waste ink tank)	Worn yellow tube, deformed head protection plate, motor pump failure	Check yellow tube replacement history → check protection plate condition	④ ⑮ ⑯
Captop and head position misaligned, causing poor cleaning	Poor Captop left/right alignment, Capping station height/level issue	Visually check Captop-head alignment → check Capping station level	⑤ ⑥ ⑦
Printing is fine at first, then a specific color suddenly drops out	Capping station height (SW setting) issue	Check SW setting change history, re-run test print	⑦ ⑰
Overall colors look faded/washed out	Reduced White density (separated ink not purged)	Pump White for 15+ seconds, then re-check	⑱
White scatters messily around the image	Poor White ink condition and Captop maintenance	Check Captop/head surface contamination	⑲
White cleaning takes unusually long or doesn’t work well	Office temperature below 18–25°C, worn yellow tube/Captop	Check ink tank temperature → check consumable replacement history	⑬ ⑭
Ink drops out mid-print after ignoring the main ink tank alarm	Air entering the ink tube (exceeded usable limit)	Check usage since the alarm, verify against the ~100ml remaining limit	㉒
Intermittent channel failure — works sometimes, fails other times	Main ink tube burst (especially White)	Check for ink response when drawing from the damper with a syringe	⑪
Colors look strange, unclear if it’s DATA or ink supply	Diagnosis needed first (cause not yet determined)	Identify the problem color first, then distinguish DATA vs. ink supply	㉑
White is completely clogged after a month or more of inactivity	Ink hardening from long-term non-use	Run the IPA cleaning procedure (deactivate channels that don’t recover)	㉓

Ⅲ. Classification Table by Root Cause (For Structural Understanding) _ Printer Cleaning Problems Part 23 Table of Contents

This table helps identify “where the root of the problem lies” to reduce recurrence.
If the same symptom keeps repeating, organizing causes this way is the fastest approach.

Category	Main Causes / Factors	Typical Symptoms	Characteristics	Ref.
A. Captop	Contamination, surface drying, degraded ink, misalignment	Delayed cleaning, poor nozzle recovery	Visually verifiable, resolved by consumable replacement	① ② ⑤ ⑥ ⑧ ⑨ ⑭
B. Damper	Reduced filter function, overdue replacement	Specific channel nozzle failure, color drop-out	Nozzle recovery fails even when pumping is normal	③ ⑳
C. Pump Motor · Tube	Worn yellow tube, burst main ink tube	Pumping failure, intermittent White malfunction	Requires regular replacement (recommended every 3 months)	④ ⑪ ⑫
D. Installation · Alignment	Capping station height/level, deformed head protection plate	Color drop-out mid-print, pumping failure	Requires physical alignment check	⑦ ⑮ ⑯
E. Usage / Maintenance Habits	Excessive pumping/cleaning, ignoring alarms, SW setting errors	Damper damage, air ingress, color drop-out	Directly tied to operating habits, preventable	⑩ ⑰ ㉒
F. White-Specific Issues	Pigment separation, hardening from long-term non-use, temperature sensitivity	Reduced density, scattering, nozzle clogging	Easily mistaken for a DATA problem	⑬ ⑱ ⑲ ㉓
G. Diagnostic Method	Need to isolate cause by color	Only a specific color is off, cause unclear	Diagnose first to prevent the issue from spreading	㉑

Ⅳ. Detailed Guide — 23 Articles on Ink Supply & Cleaning _ Printer Cleaning Problems Part 23 Table of Contents

Click the numbers shown in the table above to jump directly to the detailed solution.
Each article includes real field cases, step-by-step checks, and precautions.

① The Captop Lower Tube

There are three types of ink tubes used in printers.
If you use the tube that goes under the captop as a regular ink tube, you’ll inevitably experience pumping problems, either immediately or later.

② How to Replace the Captop

If this is your first time replacing a cap, it’s going to be a bit of a trial and error process.
Here’s how to replace a cap.

③ The Damper

Describes pumping problems that can occur due to dampers.
Explains the importance of the tubing connected to the damper and how to check for any problems with it.

④ The Pump Motor and the Yellow Tube

Describes a problem with the pump motor and yellow tube that prevented pumping and cleaning.
If your pump was operating normally but suddenly stopped pumping, you should suspect the yellow tube.

⑤ Captop and Head Position

Explains the problem of misalignment between the captop and head.
Also explains how to align the captop left and right and how to set the capping station height.
Setting the capping station height is particularly important.

⑥ How to Manually Align the Captop and Head Position

If the captop and head position still won’t align properly no matter how hard you try, here’s how to manually adjust them.
If you’ve checked the captop, yellow tube, and damper but still can’t pump, this procedure will resolve the pumping issue.

⑦ Capping Station Is Not Level and How to Level It

Check this when the pump is working properly, but a specific channel nozzle in the head isn’t functioning properly.
After struggling for over a month, this turned out to be the cause.

⑧ The Problem of Captop Surface Drying and Its Solution

A simple issue, but one that first-time printer users sometimes encounter.

⑨ Problem and Solution When Deteriorated Ink Remains Inside the Captop

Pumping and cleaning work well, but the nozzles don’t recover.
Almost everything was replaced — ink, damper, head — yet the problem persisted.
If pumping and cleaning work well but the nozzle pattern doesn’t improve, and the same happens during printing, refer to this section.

⑩ Problems Caused by Too Frequent Pumping and Cleaning

Occurs when the damper isn’t given time to fill with ink and pumping/cleaning are repeated continuously.
A simple problem, but one that first-time printer users sometimes experience.

⑪ Symptoms and Solutions When the Main Ink Tube Bursts

If the nozzle pattern looks good for a specific color but ink leaks out during printing, or you feel no resistance drawing ink from the damper with a syringe, this may be a burst ink tube.
White is connected to multiple dampers, making this harder to detect.
If the White nozzle pattern is sometimes good, sometimes not, suspect a burst ink tube.

⑫ How to Replace the Motor Pump Tube

Includes a video showing how to replace the motor pump tube (yellow tube).

⑬ Why White Cleaning Doesn’t Work Well and Tips for Improvement

Explains why White cleaning isn’t as effective as Color/Varnish cleaning, and offers tips to make it more efficient.

⑭ Real-Life Cases Where White Cleaning Didn’t Work and How It Was Resolved

If White cleaning has been poor and taking a long time, and nothing else improves it, replace this part first before checking other issues.

⑮ Problem and Solution That Couldn’t Be Solved Even With Full Knowledge

Pumping failed even after checking everything.
The head protection plate, which looked fine from below, was severely dented after the head was removed — this explains what can go wrong.

⑯ Pumping Issue Caused by a Cracked Head Protection Plate and Its Solution

This issue also created a pumping problem — here’s what to do if the head protection plate is slightly loose.

⑰ A Specific Color Suddenly Disappearing During Printing and How to Resolve It

Nozzle pattern was normal; the first 3–4 test prints were fine, but ink started running out from the fifth.
Even after replacing all consumables including the ink line, the problem persisted — a simple SW setting change resolved it immediately.
A real-world example of why capping station height matters.

⑱ The Issue of Faded Color

A simple issue, but one that first-time printer users sometimes encounter.
Printed colors appear toned down due to White density, not Color density.

⑲ The Issue of White Ink Flying Around the Image

Why does White appear scattered around the image? Explains the cause and ways to improve it.

⑳ Two Problems That Arise When You Miss the Damper Replacement Period

Missing the damper replacement period may cause a specific channel nozzle to malfunction, or colors to fade mid-print even with a healthy nozzle pattern.
Includes a damper replacement video.

㉑ How to Identify Problematic Colors When They Don’t Appear Correctly

When colors appear strange during printing, first identify the problematic color.
Then determine whether the issue is DATA-related or ink-supply-related.

㉒ Problems That Occur When You Ignore the Low Ink Alarm

If an ink shortage alarm appears in the main ink tank, you can keep using the printer for a short time.
But if you ignore it and continue printing, ink may run out mid-print.
Continuing to clean without knowing the right solution may never resolve the issue.

㉓ How to Revive Clogged White Heads

If a printer isn’t used for a long time, the White nozzle will clog.
If pumping, cleaning, and test prints all fail to clear a clogged White nozzle, this explains how to finally clear it.

Ⅴ. UV Printer Basics · Troubleshooting · Product Guides

We have organized our UV Printer content below. Click an item to read the full post.

1) Print Head Issues

UV Printer Head Issues — 12 Articles by Symptom ARTJET 2026

For deeper printhead study: Printhead Basics — 10 Articles

2) Electronics / Software Issues

UV Printer Electronics / Software Issues — 12 Articles ARTJET 2026

3) Mechanical Issues

UV Printer Mechanical Issues — 10 Articles ARTJET 2026

4) Sai Flexi RIP Installation, Spot Color, Troubleshooting

Sai Flexi RIP Tips — 10 Articles

5) UV Printable Products — Full Summary

26 Products You Can Make with a UV Printer — Full Guide

Ⅵ. ARTJET UV Printer

After selling and maintaining ARTJET UV printers for over 5 years, we have learned one vital lesson.

The most important factor next to product stability is accumulating troubleshooting data.

Problems can occur with any equipment depending on the environment, working conditions, and user skill level.
What matters in the field is not “trouble-free equipment,” but:

How fast and how accurately
you can find the cause and solve the problem when it occurs.

ARTJET continuously collects and organizes real-world problem data from the field
to support faster and more accurate problem resolution.

🎥 View Print Quality Samples

[Print quality sample by video]

💰 Pricing & Sales Conditions

[Pricing & Sales Condition]

(Note: Exterior design has been updated)

🧾 Full List of UV Printable Products

[UV Printable Product Guide]

Complete list of products you can make with a UV printer

* Note: Exterior design has been updated.

※ This article is based on actual field cases. Results may vary depending on the environment and equipment configuration.

쉬운 목차

INKJET UV Printer & Laser Cutting Machine